Launched in 2002, the Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program at the National Science Foundation is a research and development e!ort to build capacity and integrate the work of higher education, especially its science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplinary faculty, with that of K–12 to strengthen and reform mathematics and science education. The MSP program seeks to improve student outcomes and significantly reduce achievement gaps in the mathematics and science performance of diverse student populations. The program was reauthorized as part of the America COMPETES Act of 2007 and provided with additional appropriations in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the fiscal year 2009 federal budget. NSF's MSP program coordinates its effort with the Mathematics and Science Partnerships program of the U.S. Department of Education. The shared expectation is that effective innovations in mathematics and science education will be disseminated into
wider practice.

Through the MSP program, NSF awards competitive, merit-based grants to teams composed of institutions of higher education, local K–12 school systems and additional supporting partners (figure 1), which can include other stakeholders in educational excellence in the STEM fields.